Clutch



Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES CLUTCH George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 20, 1936, Serial N0. 80,674

13 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanical clutches and has for its object to provide a simple and economically made clutch capable of being operated efiiciently in a reverse as well as a forward 5 direction. Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates l an example of the invention without defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, of the novel clutch and its associated elements; Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being shifted to more clearly indicate the construction; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 and showing the clutch in reversing engagement, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 3

but showing the clutch in forward driving engagement.

In the drawing II) designates the frame of a machine in which the driven shaft I I is rotatably mounted, said shaft II being provided with a lengthwise groove I2 in which a key I3 is seated. The key I3 is cylindrical and has an intermediate section I4 located between its ends I5 and I6, said section I4 of the key I3 constituting a segmental portion having a surface I'I curved in an arc having a radius corresponding to the radius of the shaft Il; the arrangement is such that when the key I3`is mounted in the shaft II said key I3 normally occupies a position in which the surface I'I is concentric with the center of the 35 cumferential surface thereof. In the surface I'I is cut a recess I8 bounded by the plane walls I9 and 20 extending in planes parallel to the axis of said key I3 and forming a coupling shoulder 2I as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The cylindrical ends I and I6 of the key I3 provide bearings` for the rotation of the key I3 im the groove I2 of the shaft II in the manner and for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. Encircling the shaft II and key I3 is a collar or drive member 22 which is mounted in fixed relation to the power member"23 to rotate therewith for inst-ance by means of the key 24. In the internal wall of the drive 'member 22 a series of notches 22a, 22a, 22h; are provided, the notches 22a being arranged to individually register with the groove I2 and being so shaped that their surfaces are concentric with the axis of rotation of the key I3 when in registering relation with said groove I2. The notch 22b which shaft II and substantially flush with the `cir' (c1. 19e- 29) Y also isv adapted to register with the groove I2 has only a part of its surface concentric with the axis of rotation of the key I3, the remaining portion of the notch 22h being formed or recessed to provide a tooth like structure or -undercut projection 22C. The latter extends circumferentially of the drive member 22 and lies fiush with the encircling surface thereof and is adaptedunder certain conditions to project into the recess I8 of the key I3 in overlapping engagement with the shoulder 2l as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. During any given operative period the power member 23 may be continuously rotated by any convenient source of power, it being understood that the projection 22o and the opposite Curved end of the notch 22h constitute spaced coupling devices which normally travel in a circular'path outside of the coupling device or shoulder 2I so that the drive or power member 23 rotates freely on and relatively to the driven member or shaft II. Rigidly fixed on the shaft II are two collars 25 and 26, which preferably are recessed to accommodate the cylindrical ends I5 and I6 of the key I3, thereby providing a means for confining the key I3 in the groove I2. On the outer surfaces of the collars 25 and 26, the power member 23 is rotatably mounted and held in place against excess longitudinal movement by shoulders 21 formed on said power member 23 and projecting inwardly beyond said collars 25 and 26. l

To the end I6 of the key I3 is fixed the arm 28 which extends radially therefrom and has one end of a compression spring 29 in engagement therewith, the other end of the spring'29 being supported by a pin 30 which is suitably mounted on the collar 26 rigidly att-ached to the shaft II. The spring 29 urges the key I3 to rotate about its longitudinal axis on the bearing ends I5 and I6 in the groove I2 ofthe shaft II and co-operating recesses provided in the collars 25 and 26. Longitudinal movement ofthe key I3 in the groove I2 is prevented bythe collar 25 and the opposite end of the socket in the shaft II, said collar 25 being held in fixed relation to the shaft I I in any suitable manner as by means of the screw 25a. and pin 25h. A portion of the other collar 26 is removed in the proximity of the arm 28 of the key I3 to allow vfree movement of the key I3 about its longitudinal axis'as wi appear more fully hereinafter.

The arm 28 of the key I.3 is provided with a curved surface 3l a part of which has a radius corresponding to that of the drive member 22 and" concentric with the surface I'I of the section. III

facilitate the adjusting operations.

clutches of this type, expensive and complicated additional parts" are required in order to obtain of the key I3; the arm 28 is further provided with a shoulder 32 arranged to cooperate with a shoulder 33 formed on the collar 26 as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. In practice the arm 28, under certain conditions is adapted to engage a pawl 34 Which is rigidly fixed on a shaft 35, loosely mounted in the bearings 35 and 3'I, the latter comprising integral parts of a bracket 38 bolted to the side frame Ill; To one end of the shaft 35 is secured the lever 38 provided with a pin 40 on which is loosely mounted a connecting link 4I, it being understood that the connecting link 4I is operatively connected to suite` able means for operatively reciprocating the link 4I, as for instance a lever controlled by= the machine operator.

'Ihe type of clutch just described is widely used on hand operated machines whereinthefmachine fperforms an operation on an article and in which it is necessary to stop the machine after `the Work stroke, remove the-article andputvanew article inplace to be operated upon'. In order `to Vstop such a machine it generally is= not feasible or efficient to stop the drivingmeans, so that it-is desirable to use a clutch ofthe type described in shut down'the` machine-momentarily, while at the same time itis impractical to stop'the coating. mechanism, usually consisting of aseries `ofrolls, as they would become fouled in the-interirn. To avoid this it is desirable to` provide -a clutch such as described herein so that themain parteithe machine may be disconnected from-thecoating-,mechanism/.iwhenever this maybe necessaryl or desirable.l

At certain times, when the machines mentioned are being set or-adjusted Aforoperation, it often becomes necessary to turn them backwards to In existing the desired results.

The operation, of the mechanism described hereinbefore is as follows:

Under normal operating conditions, the power' member-231with the-collar 22 fixed in driving relationxtherewith by the` square key 24, is rotating inia clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1,

\ 3 andg4.; If'the machine is being `driven by the' clutch, the pawl 34 will be positioned as shown in Fig. 2, i. e., out of-line with the arm 28 of' the key I3. When this condition prevails, the spring 29 backed by the collar 2li-:urges thekey I3about its longitudinal axis in oneV direction to a given coupling position until the shoulder 32 strikes the co-op`erating shoulder 33 of the collar 26. This will. result in the condition shown in Fig. 4 where the key I3 in. said givencoupling position is indicated in driving engagement with the curved surface of the notch 22h. As the surface of the notchl 22bengages the cylindrical surface of the key I3; the shaft II will bey rotated in the frame IIlthereby drivingV the machines operating parts. This driving condition :will obtain `as long as the pawl 34 is held out'of the path of the arm 28:

If, however, the pawl '34 `is moved` to the position indicated by the dottedlines shown in Fig. 2;

by operating the link14I, pin40 and lever 39to f i rockthe shaft 35, the surface. 3| of :the arrnv28` will strike the pawl 34 which will cause the key I3 to rotate about its longitudinal axis in the opposite direction until the surface I'I thereof is concentric with the axis of the shaft II and substantially flush with the circumferential surface thereof as illustrated in Fig. 1; in this position a portion of the surface 3| of the arm 28 will also be concentric with the shaft II, and will allow the momentum of the moving parts to be dissipated to thereby bring the shaft II with its attendant parts to a standstill without affecting the position of the key I3.

`If for any reason it becomes necessary or desirable to reverse the rotation of the shaft I I and its associated mechanism, the pawl 34 is restored c to the solid line position in Fig. 2 to permit the spring 29V to again rock the key I3 on its axis in 'the same direction as previously mentioned to the aforesaid given coupling position shown in 22 and kpower member 23 `ina reverse direction, under such conditions with the key I3 .in said given coupling position, will cause the projection 22e to enter the recess I8 in overlapping engagement with the shoulder 2I of the key I3 and to'thereby transfer such rotation in a reverse direction to the shaft II and the mechanism operated thereby. Under such conditions the projection A22e and the recess I8 -with its shoulder 2I constitute co-operating means on the drive mem.- ber 22' and the key I3 arranged to couple said drive member 22 andfdriven member or shaft II together and to prevent axial rotation of the key I 3" when the drive member 22 is rotated in the reverse direction. This reversal Vof the shaft I I may be accomplished by manual actuation of the power member 23 when said` reversal is required to facilitate adjustment of the machine, or it may be .brought about by applying power to the power member 23-whenreverse operation of the mal' `ing` exemplified by theeprojection 22o and the curved-opposite end of the notch 22h. The key I3, which is mounted for axial rotation inthe longitudinal `groove I2 ofthe driven member or shaft II, in turn is providedwith a co-operating coupling device normally Vlying within the groove I2 outside of Pthe circularA path of'the coupling devices of thedrive member 22. The coupling device of the key I3 is exemplified by the shoulder 2-I which, by axial rotation of said'key I3, is movable into the notch 22h to a position between andin the circular path ofthe projection 22e and the curved opposite end of said notch 22h for selective engagement with either of them dependent upon the direction ofrotation of the drive member22 to correspondingly rotate the driven member or shaft II.

The-novel clutch shown and described herein is simple in construction and of maximum efficiency in both forward and reverse driving and requires rection is required to effect rotationof `the driven member Ilink opposite directionsi` Various changes in they specific forms shown.

andY described maybe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: l

A1. The combination of a drive member, a driven member, and: a key mounted' for axial rotation in said driven member and rotatably adjust-able in one direction to a given coupling position, said drive member and said key each having a plurality of faces adapted in said given coupling position of said key to co-operate in pairs for respective driving engagement when said drive member is rotated either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction whereby said driven member may be correspondingly rotated in opposite directions when said key occupies said given coupling position.

2. The combination of a drive member, a driven member, a key mounted for axial rotation in said driven member and rotatably adjustable in one direction to a given coupling position, said drive member and said key each having a plurality of faces adapted in said given coupling position of said key tol co-operate in pairs for respective driving engagement when said drive member is rotated either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and means to rotate said key whereby said driven member may be correspondingly rotated in opposite directions when said key occupies said given coupling position.

3. In a clutch of the kind described, a clutch key adapted for axial rotation having a surface concentric with said axis, a surface eccentric with said axis, and a recess cut in said eccentric surface to provide a coupling device on said key.

4. In a clutch of the kind described, a clutch key adapted for axial rotation having a surface concentric with said axis, a surface eccentric with said axis, and a recess in said eccentric surface, two sides of said recess extending in planes parallelto the axis of said key to provide a coupling shoulder on said key.

5. In a clutch of the kind described, a clutch key adapted for axial rotation and provided with a surface concentric with its longitudinal axis, a surface eccentric with its longitudinal axis, and a recess in said eccentric surface, the major sides of which form an acute angle in relation to each other to provide a coupling shoulder on said key.

6. In a clutch of the kind described, a rotatable clutch driving member, a driven member, one of said members having a wall concentric with its longitudinal axis provided with a series of notches, and a clutch key mounted for axial rotation in the other member and rotatably adjustable about its axis in one direction to a given coupling po sition, at least one of said notches being adapted to contact said rotatable clutch key in said coupling position when said driving member is rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction whereby said driven member may be f' correspondingly rotated in opposite directions when said clutch key occupies said given coupling position.

7. The combination of a drive member, a driven member, a key rotatably mounted in said driven member, notches cut in said drive member to Contact said key in driving engagement when rotating in one direction, and co-operating means on said drive member and key arranged to couple said drive member and driven member together and to prevent axial rotation of said key when the drive member is rotated in the opposite direction. a

8. The combination of a drive member, a driven member, a key-rotatably'mounted in Said driven member, notches cut in said drive member to contact said key in driving engagement when rotating in one-direction, and co-operating means on said drive member and key arranged to couple said drive member and driven member together and to prevent axialrotation of said key when thefdrive member is rotated in the opposite direction, said co-operating means comprising an angular recess in said key and a projection complementary to said recess on said .drive member.

9. The combination of a drive member and a driven member having a common axis, one of said members having a surface groove extending lengthwise thereof, and the other of said members being provided with a surface notch having a curved end and a circumferentially extending projection in opposed spaced relation to each other, a key mounted for axial rotation in said surface groove, a shoulder carried by said key and normally lying within said groove, and means for axially rotating said key to shift said shoulder into said notch for selective engagement respectively with said curved end or projection dependent upon the direction of rotation of said drive member to correspondingly rotate said driven member.

10. The combination of a rotatable driven member, a drive member encircling said driven member in rotatable surface engagement therewith, one of said members having a longitudinal surface groove and the other of said members having a lsurface notch, a key mounted for axial rotation in said groove, coupling devices located in pairs respectively on said key and in said notch and normally lying in independent circular paths, and means for axially rotating said key in a given direction to shift its pair of coupling devices into said notch into the circular path of the pair of coupling devices therein for selective engagement therewith whereby the driven member is connected with said drive member for operation thereby.

11. The combination of a rotatable driven member, a drive member encircling said driven member in rotatable surface engagement therewith, said driven member having a longitudinal surface groove, an undercut coupling projection on said drive member extending circumferentially thereof and lying flush with the encircling surface of said drive member, a key mounted for axial rotation in said groove, a coupling shoulder on said key normally lying within said groove out of the circular path of said coupling projection, and means for axially rotating said key to shift its coupling shoulder into the circular path of said coupling projection whereby the driven member is connected with said drive member for operation thereby.

12. The combination of a rotatable driven member, a drive member encircling said driven member in rotatable surface engagement therewith, said driven member having a longitudinal surface groove, a plurality of coupling devices on said drive member in spaced relation at the encircling surface thereof, a key mounted for axial rotation in said groove, a coupling shoulder on said key normally lying within said groove out of the circular path of said plurality of coupling devices, and means for axially rotating said key to shift its coupling shoulder to a position a coupling device normally lying Within the recess of the other member and movable about an axis parallel with the common axis of said members, and lmeans for shifting said movable coupling device out of its recess in a given direction into the recess of the other member for selective engagement with either of said xed coupling devices dependent upon the direction of rotation of the drive member to correspondingly rotate the driven member.

GEORGE W. voN HOFE. 

